The purpose of this paper is to describe and discuss the American Geriatrics Society (AGS). To this end, the discussion covers four basic dimensions: (1) AGS history, mission, and objectives; (2) AGS current organizational structure;
(3) Characteristic AGS advocacy activities; and (4) AGS' organizational degree of success.
AGS History, Mission, and Objectives
According to Meyer (1992), the AGS was originally formed in 1942 by a group of thirty physicians as an advocacy organization with the mission of promoting research in geriatric medicine. In an effort to fulfill this mission, the society formulated the following objectives:
(1) Encourage and direct physicians and researchers to more strongly focus on the field of geriatrics;
(2) Establish and/or expand existing educational institutions specializing in providing training in geriatric health care; and
(3) Establish a geriatrics journal.
AGS founders immediately sought to form state affiliates and were granted their first state charter in 1952. Their objective of establishing a journal was met in 1953 with the development of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society under the editorial direction of Dr. Willard O. Thompson.
Over the years, this journal has gone from a publication serving only a few physicians with an interest in aging to a recognized area of specialization. Moreover, the journal has expanded its focus from psychosocial issues alone such as nursing home quality or the mandatory age of retirement to a greater emphasis upon medicine and the diseases that have been especially associated with aging, e.g., diseases such as heart disease, cancer.
Barondess (1996) reports that the mission and objectives of the AGS have also changed somewhat over the years. Whereas the earlier mission was the promotion of geriatric research, the AGS now lists its basic mission as that of improving the health and well-being of all older adults.